In this tech driven world there are two types of consequences for leaders—first, the trends that are reshaping the role of a leader and secondly the trends that are reshaping the leadership context. Summarized below are the six trends and their probable and transformational ripple effects on leadership. 

 

1. Experiment & Learn

 

Business-savvy leaders will restore the entrepreneurial, risk-seeking stance that sagged after the global financial crisis, showing a willingness to experiment to test new technological waters, and if they fail, to fail fast and then move on to their next initiative.

 

2. Messaging is not Real Conversation

 

Working remotely, virtual offices, and global locations necessitate creating connectedness through messaging. But emojis do not reflect the body language! Thus, this means leaders need to coach towards technology-free real interactions. (Hint: turn off your phone and texts during meetings).

 

3. Too much data, too little trust

 

Leaders must step up to take ownership of how data is used and protected to avoid a continued slide into a state of data cynicism amongst consumers and employees. 

 

4. Generational diversity transforming commerce and brands

 

Leaders must adopt a broad view of customer focus towards new groups. They also need to assemble their teams, fostering knowledge sharing amongst generational groups. And with all this, they’ll plan in high-usability technology platforms that respond to the core needs and expectations—for learning, for making smarter informed decisions, and for becoming more efficient—of the modern employee, regardless of age.

 

5. Tech companies are maturing faster 

 

Technology organizations move from infancy to maturity in a matter of years. Successful leaders will need to operate with agility, read the business landscape, understand consumer behavior and make the necessary adjustments. Leadership mobility, and building a bench that will feed the prospects of the organization, will be the ultimate measure of the leader.

 

6. Buy if you can’t build

 

Purchasing successful tech ventures to snap into your organization like a Minecraft add-on infuses a brand of thinking that can’t be developed overnight. Technology investments require more than hardware—infrastructure includes talent who can create solutions that work and who speak the language.

 

Despite the deceptively narrow title, these trends shape the business environment for every technology-dependent organization, along with its leaders.